Bandipora people protest against PDD


Mir Tariq
Bandipora, Feb 01:Fed up by the non-availability of electricity, people here took to roads to protest against Power Development Department (PDD). Hundreds of people irrespective of age and sex took to roads at Ajas, Hajin, Madwan, Prang Saidu Nara, Markandal and Shahgund, here this morning. The protestors alleged that their areas have been groping in darkness as Power Development Department (PDD) is not supplying electricity to them.
The protestors staged a sit-in dharna in front of police station Hajin. Shouting anti-PDD and anti-administration slogans, the protestors blocked the vehicular movement on the road. They did not allow any vehicular movement to pass through the area. The protestors alleged that power supply to number of villages from Ajas to Shahgund is snapped by Ganderbal grid station frequently. “We are facing frequent power interruptions. Such is the frequency of power cuts that we don’t know when electricity will be supplied to us by the department” they said.Due to the power shortage, the students of the affected villages are worst hit. “We are facing lot of hardships due to non availability of electricity. We cannot concentrate on our studies”, said one of the protestors. The protestors accused Ganderbal grid employees of ‘regional prejudice”. They claimed that employees intentionally make the Hajin feeder non-functional. The protesting villagers further alleged that areas served by the Ajas receiving station have been deprived of power supply by the PDD authorities. People also took to roads at Bankoot, Quil Muqaam, Araagam, Kaloosa and Watapora and staged protest demonstrations against PDD for non availability of electricity.